Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman Faculty, SMS & IT Humber College Showcase 2013, 6 th June 2013
Session Outline 1. Strategies from Video Games What is the problem? How can games be part of the solution? 2. Our Experiments with Gamification 3. Creating an Educational Video Game
Student Engagement Students must be engaged before they can learn Many students give up and switch off when challenged High student attrition and failure rates
The video game industry Most of your students are gamers Every good video game is challenging No game is advertised as easy What lessons could we learn? Gamification
Progression Progression constantly updated Can see at a glance where you are and often where you stand
Avatars and Leveling up Avatar that represents the player Constant feedback As points are earned, player levels up Shown visually via a change in their avatar
Achievements / Badges Gamers collect achievements Compare with friends Source of pride
Quests A succession of quests Quest is a mission or task for the player to complete Keep trying til you succeed Gradual increase in ability needed
Our Experiments With Gamification
Avatars and Leveling Up Embedded features into course website Avatars that level up
Badges Displayed on Blackboard Correspond to student engagement Colour coded Artwork by Katharine Webb, elearning Dept.
Quest Based Learning 3D Game Lab from Boise State University
Feedback from students Course map Can see my marks and where I stand at a glance in my face Keeps me on track Reminds me to talk to teacher if there s a problem Avatars and Leveling up Feels good to level up Cool, but not enough to motivate me to work Need a progress bar
Feedback from students Badges Interest high at start but waned over time Not all badges worthwhile Quest based learning I like working at my own pace I like meeting people for coop quests Loved try til you succeed strategy (depth of learning much improved)
Creating a Video Game Wanted to create an actual video game Foster the qualities of a successful student Awarded an $8,000 SIRF grant Game was mostly designed and built by Humber students and grads
What s the game?
Targeting Student Engagement Students earn points inside & outside the classroom Can spend points in the game
Video
Teacher Program
Let s play!
Future Plans Pilot game in Fall 2013 Reach out to other faculty and programs
Summary Tap into the gamer culture Strategies from the video game industry Target student engagement Gamify on a small scale and build up
Thank you! Please contact us umer.noor@humber.ca hausman@humber.ca